The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-08-07
A WAR STORY.
The Union Spy Of the Kelly Lam
GERS and the "Rebel Queen"
A Monongalia Soldiers Thrilling Ex-
perience i'm the Late War.

Dt Tue lancer boys came 10 me with /
the glad tidings that there was to
be dancing party at the home of
the "Rebel Queen" on the night fol +
lowing and were very anxious that |
| should 90 with them This was
my opportunity. When the time
arrived several of us went TO the
party. We there found a large num- |
her of young people and at least
three fourths of them ladies-the /
''Rebel Queen" being as usual the
belle Of the ball. She had robed
herself in her gayest and most costly
apparel for the purpose of honoring,
as she believed, a representative of
the Southern Confederacy who was
risking his life in defense of the
South.
The ball was a grand success and
all were enjoying themselves i'm
mensely, until about eleven o'clock,
when Sergeant Tom Pugh arrived
with orders for the boys to return to
camp Immediately. as some one had
come in and reported to the Captain
that CampbelPs company of rebel
cavalry were advancing towards
Buckhannon. As there were no
other rebel troops known TO be with
in hundred miles of Buckhannon,
and Campbell's company we did not
fear, the officers of the Lancers had
given the boys great deal Of liberty.
In fact they went where they pleas
ed, providing they were present at
roll call morning and evening.
Therefore no one had obtained per-
mission to attend this ball, except
ing Sam Goodwin and myself
Previous to the arrival of Sarg ant
Pugh l overheard a very spirited
conversation, between the "Rebel
Queen" and her mother, in regard
to myself The mother eontended
that l was a "yank" and was con
nected with the Lancers, while the
daughter felt certain that | was the
rebel spy and clinched her argu
ment by stating that / answered the
description given in the letter she
received from her brother. When
Pugh ordered the boys back to camp
Goodwin produced his pass. Pugh
said that Goodwin might stay, but
all the balance must return. This
looked as though | had got into a
pickle, but the Sergeant motioned
for me to go out. He soon followed
and then told me that the Captain
had ordered that should stay as
long as ! wished. l then returned
to the house and again took part in
the amusement, while Pugh hurried
the boys off to Buckhannon. The
"Rebel Queen" had watched these
proceedings very infinitely, and !
was fortunate a few minutes after
to hear another interesting discus
sion between the Queen" and her
mother. "The Queen remarked tri-
nmphantly that the episode that had
Just occurred was sufficient evidence
that she was right; that ] was no
yank, but rebel spy; that Pugh
had said that all soldiers must re
turn except Goodwin; that / had
paid no attention to the command
and that Pugh did not notice me
This argument silenced her mother
but as l afterward learned she was
not convinced.
l was happy in knowing that
had the entire confidence of the
daughter, and would be able to OBJ
tain the coveted information if did
not commit any blunder. My OPP
portunity came in a few minutes
Having left the floor from dancing
/ retired to a park just beyond the
house to rest and enjoy the pleasant
breeze. / had hardly entered the
park when | was joined by the
Queen" After taking my arm We
walked some time in the park and
then rested under linden tree. She
said that she was anxious that
should place implicit confidence il
her; that she knew my real name
and my business at Buckhannon
that friends in the South had writ
JCu W llCl stDOub lnt anu ItNuCottN
her to be friend to me and to as
sist me in any way she could; tina
she was willing to sacrifice her lif'
for the Southern cause, and she wal
willing to run any necessary risk il
assisting me in my venture. Sh'
said she knew that / was getting tn,
number of soldiers at each point an(
, was obtaining other military infor
nation, but if had any other bust
J ness in which she could assist me t,
: please name it and she was at m,
service. | told her that / wished t.
send mail to parties in the Soutl
and asked if she could assist in do
, ing so. She replied that she coult
! and would take pleasure in doins
so; that friend of hers kept rebe
postoffice on the head waters of tn
, West Fork, about thirty miles away
and when had my mail ready t
) come to her; that she would furnis
/ me a horse and would act as m
: guide, as / could not find the wa
2 alone as most of the trip wa
Z through forest with only bridl
path for road.
, This matter being settled, l aske
r her why Campbell's company re
. manned up in Webster when ever
southern soldier was needed at tn
! front. She answered that Geners
Witcher with his brigade was con
> ing from North Carolina, and afte
5 being joined by Campbell's compan
4 was going to take Weston, the
, Buckhannon and, if possible, Clarks
$ burg l asked how many me
| Witcher had. She replied abou
4 800. / then asked when she es
pected him. She replied that in a
: probability he was at Webster G. T
then, and if so would be at Buck
4 harmon in three or four days.
r / am very conscientious ma
J. and while this conversation was g
ing on l was trying to solve th
' question whether was not doing
s low and dastardly piece of bushes
| in deceiving this young girl. 1t wa
q true I did not tell her single falls,
i hood, but | was acting falsehoo
e in allowing her to believe that | wa
: friend when was a foe In pc
q hitting her to impart informatio